The St. Francis football team lost a heartbreaker to Santa Cruz on Friday night 21-14. Santa Cruz took an early 14-0 and a Sharks Devin McLeod touchdown run put the Sharks on the board. The touchdown was set up by a long pass play from Quarterback Derric Estrada-Haro to Cory Parker. Santa Cruz scored another touchdown before the half to go up 21-7 at the break. There was no scoring in the 3rd quarter and then in the 4th quarter with just under 5 minutes to go Carson Cuzick ran in a touchdown for the Sharks to cut the lead to 21-14. After than a Cesar Sanchez onside kick was recovered by Able Martinez for St. Francis, but the Sharks were unable to convert on the drive. A big third down tackle by Josh Kovacs forced a Santa Cruz punt where Cory Parker and Andy O' Rourke teamed up to stop Santa Cruz on their fake punt attempt. The Sharks then moved the ball, but a 4th down play fell incomplete and then Santa Cruz was able to kneel on the ball for the win.
The game was a de facto MTAL Coastal Division title game. The Sharks are now 7-2 on the year and 4-1 in MTAL play. Santa Cruz is also 4-1 in MTAL play and has the tie breaker due to the head to head win. Santa Cruz hosts Habor next week and St. Francis hosts Soquel on Senior Friday Night November 10th at Watsonville High School, JV at 5 pm and varsity at 7:30 pm. A Santa Cruz loss and St. Francis win would make St. Francis MTAL Coastal Division Champions. A Shark win vs. Soquel would give the Sharks a chance at an at large bid to the CCS playoffs. Please come out next Friday night to Watsonville High School to honor our seniors and watch the Sharks take on Soquel.